A day-care centre for the mentally challenged victims of endosulfan who are above 17 years will be opened here on August 28.
The Snehaveedu built at an estimated of ₹40 lakh at Ambalathara, 8 km east of Kanhangad, will be declared open by Suresh Gopi, MP. P.Karunakaran, MP, will be present.
The project was executed with the support of people from various walks of life, including ₹9 lakh donated from accruals from charity shows of actor Kunchacko Boban, who played the lead role in K. Biju’s film Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal, which highlighted the plight of endosulfan victims in remote hamlets of the district.
Funds were also raised from charity cricket matches played, among others, by singer Vijay Yesudas and actor Asif Ali.
The works at the centre, which will take care of 12 people after they are discharged from the special buds school, began on December 24, 2015.
Local people and students of Sahityavedi attached to the Nehru Arts & Science (NAS) College are giving finishing touches to the building.
The building was constructed on 10 cents donated by the Kasturba Mahila Samajam and a van to bring the victims to the centre from their houses was donated by Vasu, a resident of Velakottur, an NRI businessman hailing from Thalassery, anti-endosulfan activist Ambalathara Kunhikrishnan told The Hindu .
Student support
The endeavour has been getting liberal support from the Sahityavedi students under the supervision of Ambikasudan Mangad, who heads the Malayalam department of NAS College, besides college students from Vadakara, Kozhikode, Malappuram, and patrons of the Thiruvananthapuram-based All India Catholic University Federation.
The affairs of Snehaveedu are being looked after by Muneesa Ambalathara, a visually impaired endosulfan victim.
The centre has two halls, a physiotherapy unit, and a guest room made of ecofriendly materials. A homoeopathy physician will be visiting the centre twice a week.
The centre has drawn up strategies to provide livelihood to the victims’ mothers on the building premises, Mr. Kunhikrishnan said.
The inaugural function, scheduled at 9 a.m., would be attended by K. Kunhiraman, MLA, presidents of Pullur-Periye and Kodom-Belur grama panchayats, and local political leaders.
